Automatic starting device



'Sept. 1, 1936. c. E. MARKHAM AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE Filed NOV. 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l CHARLES E. MARKHAM 1X1 'EN'TOR.

FIG.4

A TTORVE Y.

Sept. 1, 1936.

IC. E. MARKHAM 2,053,094

AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

CHARLES E. MARKHAM [XI 'EN TOR.

A T TORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE Charles E. Markham, East St. Louis, 111., assignor to Carter Carburetor Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application November 18, 1935, Serial No. 49,459

16 Claims. (Cl. 123-179) This invention relates to starting means for internal combustion engines and consists in a device particularly adapted for automatically starting automobile engines, more specifically the invention is an improvement of the device shown intake conduit and arranged to open the automatic switch when the engine starts to run under its own power. 20 The present invention has substantially the same general objects as expressed in said CO:-

pending application, including the provision of a device which insures energizing of the starter circuit when the ignition key is turned on, pro- 25 vided that there is no such flow in the fuel intake passage as would be caused by theoperation of the engine under its own power, and provided that the throttle be at least partly open.

It is, of course, necessary that the device shall 30 function positively and rapidly to open the starter circuit as soon as the engine starts to run under its own power. An incidental object is to provide a device of the above type including spring means for urging a flow responsive switch 35 actuating element towards its switch closing position, the force exerted by-said spring means being -at least in part dependent upon the position of the throttle valve.

Another object is to provide a flow responsive I 40 switch actuating device which is relatively more sensitive to flow in the fuel intake passage when the throttle is open than when the throttle is closed.

Another object is to positively prevent closing 45 of the automatic switch device when the throttle is closed or very nearly so.

Still another object is to provide simple means for mounting an automatic device of the above type in intimate association with the fuel intake 50 conduit between the engine proper and the carburetor, said device embodying means for resist- J ing transmission of heat along the conduit from the engine to the carburetor.

These objects and other more detailed objects 55 hereafter appearing are attained substantially by the-structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view showing a portion of an automobile engine and equipment. Figure 2 is a side view and vertical section 5 taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3, portions being broken away for clearer illustration.

Figure 3 is a top view and horizontal section taken substantially on the broken line 3-3 of Figure 2, certain parts being omitted.

Figure 4 is a partial side view taken at 90 to Figure 2.

Figures 5, 6 and '7 are detail views similar to Figure 2 but showing the operating parts in difierent positions, and with certain portions being illustrated diagrammatically.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 5, 6 and 7, but showing a modification.

Figure 1 illustrates a portion of an automobile engine I, having an intake manifold 2 upon which is mounted a carburetor of any suitable design indicated generally at 3. The carburetor may include an air horn 4, having a choke valve (not shown) which may be manually operated by means of the crank 5 and a connection with the dash (not shown) or which may be automatic.

It should be noted that while this invention is shown as applied between the carburetor and the intake manifold, it may also be located in the air inlet anterior to the carburetor if desired, or even in the exhaust.

Suitably mounted adjacent the engineare a Self-starter motor 6 and a storage battery 1, the motor and battery being connected together through the heavy wire or cable 8, a solenoid or other type of magnetic switch 9, and ground connections as at It). Connected with the coils of the magnetic switch 9 is an auxiliary circuit including wires I0, H and I2. The wires l0 and H are connected to the terminals l3 and I4 of a manual switch I 5, which, conveniently, may be the usual ignition switch or lever, and the wires H and I2 are connected to the terminals of an t utomatic switch device l6 (see Figure 2).

A collar member I! formed of heat resisting 5 material such as bakelite or a compressed asbestos substance, is bolted between the opposing flanges I8 and 19 on the carburetor and the riser portion 20 of the intake manifold, respectively. Formed as a rigid part of collar member I1 is a laterally and upwardly extending bracket 2| which mounts the automatic switch device generally indicated at IS. The switch device comprises a housing 22, a backing 23 of insulating material, switch terminals 24, anda cover 25.

- throttle pedal.

Projecting rearwardly from housing 22 is a tubular element 26 extending through an aperture in the upstanding portion of bracketQl and threaded for receiving a nut' 2T1, securing the switch device tothe brack t.

At the center orthe cover is an outlet portion 28 receiving the wires ii and 92 of the auxiliary circuit. .A spring contact element 2d of hair pin shape has one leg secured to the rear portions of switch terminals 245 and has abutments 3t and 3!! on its free'leg. The portion of element 29 secured to the backing member 23 makes electrical contact with the lower terminal 2 3 (Figure 3) and is insulated from the upper terminal. Slidably received in the tubular portion 26 is a switch actuating reach pin 32 which at one end engages the abutment ill on element 29 and at the other end has a right angle ofiset pivoted at 33 to an arm or crank 36.

Mounted inside the mixing chamber portion 35 of the carburetor rigid with pin 3? pivoted in the wall of chamber is a throttle valve 36, a crank or lever 3t and dog 39 on the outside of chamber member 35, are rlgid'with one end of pin it and form a bell crank; Mounted in the intake conduit posterior to thethrottle valve, al-

though not necessarily so, isan unbalanced but= terfiy valve to having a shaft ii rigid therewith and pivoted in the collar member i l. Crank-arm 3 and arm l? constitute a bell crank formed rigid with the end of pin li adjacent the lever 36 and dog 39. A tension spring 413 connects the extremities of lever 38 and Q2. Crank 3d at its upper extremity has an ofiset finger ll for cooperating with the dog The operation or the device is as follows: J

Spring 53 extending between the levers 38 and 52, normally urges the bell crank formed by a 62 and st in a counter=ciockwise direction and. through reach pin 32 urges the tree portion of switch element 29 against the terminals 26 so as to electrically connect the auxiliary circuit wires ii and 82 (Figure 2). parts all that is necessary to energize the starter motor 6 is to close the manual switch i5, which closes the magnetic switch device e and completes the starter primary circuit in a manner well known in the art, and slightly depress the As soon as the engine starts to run under its own power, suction created in the intake manifold and the conduit members 2@ and 35 will cause the unbalanced valve iii to rotate in a clockwise direction withdrawing the reach pin 32 from switch abutment 3i and permitting opening of the switch due to the inherent resistance of the hair pin element 29. In case the ensine stalls while the manual switch remains closed, the absence of flow in the intake conduit will permit the spring 63 to move valve it and crank arms 3% and B2 in a counter-clockwise di rection, again causing the automatic switch device to close without further operation of the switch lb or the throttle.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 diagrammatically illustrate the'operative parts of the automatic switch device in various positions and, particularly show, the means for preventing closing of the automatic switch while the engine is running, which would endanger the engine and starter gears. I

Figure 5 illustrates a condition in which the throttle valve is wide open and the engine is running at a rapid rate. The substantial how of mixed fuel and air in the intake conduit holds the unbalanced valve is in a position substan tially aligned with the axis of the conduit where- In this position of the r this case, to positively prevent closing or the automatic switch. Thus it is apparent that the auxiliary circuit cannot be closed through the automatic switch device when the throttle valve is closed as in higure 6, or as long as dog'td interferes with finger l kl lgure 2 showing the position of the parts when the throttle is only partly open as in starting. This is a desirable condition since it necessitates opening the throttle valve to a substantial degree before the starter can be operated. I

Figure 7 illustrates the position of the parts under flow conditions in the intake conduit, produced when the throttle valve is fully open and the piston speed is relatively slow due to a heavy load on the engine. It is characteristic of springs, such as the coil spring d3, that the force exerted thereby increases as the spring is stretched. In order to avoid a substantial part of such additional resistance'to movement of the valve dd in the clockwise direction, due to elongation of spring 13, the spring, at its upper end, is secured eccentrically to thethrottle valve through crank 38. As the throttle valve opens the upper end or spring 3 is lowered reducing I the tension on the spring relative to a given position of valve it and facilitating the opening of valve it by the intake flow. This reduction of the force exerted by the spring 33 is important, since when the throttle valve is fully opened, dog 39 is out of position to limit themovement of crank arm 36 and pin .32 in the switch closing direction. s:

Figure 2 illustrates the throttle valve partly open as in starting, the unbalanced valve dd being closed as far as possible and the auxiliary switch device being held closed'thereby. The spring 63 is substantially shorter in this position and thus exerts less force upon valve dd inopposition to the intake flow than when the valve 58 is open. When the engine starts to run under its I own power the valve is immediately rotated clockwise so as to open the automatic switch and and unbalanced switch controlling valve 68 connected together by coil spring 38, and crankstt and 12. The switch housing 22 includes a rearwardly extending chambered portion 46 receiving side the intake conduit are the throttle valve 36 a piston Q7. The left hand portion 58 of the piston stem extends adjacent abutment 30 on' resilient switch contact element 29. The right hand portion 59 of the piston stem abuts crank arm 3d.

The piston is constantly urged to the right by a coil spring 5i within chamber 46. Piston til and chamber #36 function as a dash pot arrangement to retard both opening and closing movements of the free leg of control element 29. Thus fluttering or momentary movements of unbalanced valve 40 are not transmitted to the switch and a stable condition of the switch is assured vent reenergizing of the starter circuit under able carburetor may be utilized. The automatic switch device conveniently controls an auxiliary circuit due to the high amperage of the current drawn through the starter primary. It will be understood that the particular wiring arrangement of the starter circuit is likewise variable. Also it'may be possible to actuate an engine auxiliary other than a self starter motor by the automatic actuating means illustrated, and such use is contemplated.

I claim:

1. A starter control device comprising a conduit, a flow control valve mounted in said conduit, a flow responsive device mounted in said conduit, a switch, and means for operating said switch in response to movements of said control valve and said flow responsive device.

2. A starter control device comprising a conduit, a flow control valve for said conduit,.a flow responsive device mounted in said conduit, a control switch, connections between said flow responsive device and said control switch, and means for limiting the action of said control switch when said flow control valve is in a predetermined position.

3. In a device of the class described, means forming a conduit, a now control valve for said conduit, a flow responsive device in said conduit, spring connections between said flow control valve and said flow responsive device, a control switch, and an operating connection between said flow responsive device and said control switch.

4. In combination, an internal combustion en= gine intake conduit, a throttle valve therein, an actuating element for an engine auxiliary, a flow responsive device in said conduit and operatively associated with said element, and spring means associated with said throttle valve and said d..- vice for urging said device towards a predetermined position, the force exerted by said means being dependent at least in part upon the posi= tion of said valve.

5. In a device of the class described, an internal combustion engine intake conduit, a throttle valve therein, a fiow responsive element in said conduit, an electric circuit controlling switch operatively connected to said element, and spring means connecting said element and said valve for urging said element towards its switch closing position.

6. The combination of elements specified in claim 2 in which said throttle valve is provided with a shaft extending through the wall of said conduit and said spring means is secured to a lever mounted on said shaft.

7. The combination of elements specified in claim 2, and further including an element for resisting closing of said switch when said throttle valve is substantially closed.

8. In a device of the class described, an internal combustion engine intake conduit, a throttle valve therein, an electric circuit controlling switch, a flow responsive valve in said conduit, an operative connection between said flow responsive valve and said switch,- and spring means connecting said valves and secured eccentrically thereto.

9. In a device of the class described, an internal combustion engine intake conduit, 9. throttle valve therein, an electric circuit controlling switch, an unbalanced pivoted valve in said conduit, an operating connection between said unbalanced valve and said switch, said valves each having a shaft extending through the wall of said conduit, levers on said shafts outside said conduit, and spring means connecting valves, the lever on said unbalanced valve being operatively associated with said actuating element, and spring means urging said unbalanced valve towards its switch closing position.

11. In a device of the class described, an internal combustion engine intake conduit, an electrio circuit controlling-switch, means responsive to flow in said conduit for actuating said switch, a throttle valve in said conduit, mid means associated with said throttle valve for modifying the extent of actuation of said ilow responsive means.

12. The combination of elements specified in claim ll, and further including spring means for urging said flow controlled element towards its starter actuating position.

13. The combination of elements specified claim ii, and further including spring in 'iS tor urging said flow controlled element towards its starter actuating position, said spring means being associated with said throttle valve, whereby the force exerted by said-means depends at least in part upon the position of said valve.

14-. In a device of the class described, an internal combustion engine intake conduit, a throttle valve in said conduit, an electric circuit controlling switch, a flow responsive element in said conduit, an operating connection between said element and said switch, means for urging said element towards its sw tch closing position, and means associated with said throttle valve for preventing movement of said element to said switch closing position when said throttle valve is in a predetermined position.

15. In a device of the class described, an intake conduit for an internal combustion engine, a throttle valve therein, a flow responsive pivoted element in said conduit, 2. starter switch device including a reciprocating actuating element, a crank on said suction responsive element operatively associated with said actuating element, and spring means eccentrically connected I I: mg

to said throttle valve and said crank andv said crank towards its switch closing position, said flow responsive element being constructed and arranged to be affected by a difierence to device towards its switch-closing position, said spring being eccentrically connected to said 7 throttle valve whereby the force exerted thereby is less for a given position of said element when said valve is open than when said valve is closed, 5

throttle valve for preventing closing of said 1 switch when said valve is substantially closed.- CI- IARLES E. 

